Door lock



United States Patent DOOR LOCK Rowe G. Manchester, San Gabriel, Calif.

Application August 22, 1955, Serial No. 529,871

4 Claims. (Cl. 292-337) This invention relates to door locks and has particular reference to an arrangement for effecting proper adjustment between a lock and its associated strike plate.

If too great a clearance is permitted between a lock bolt and the keeper edge of the associated strike plate the door has a tendency to rattle. On the other hand. if not enough clearance is provided the lock bolt will not properly lock.

Even if the proper clearance is provided when the lock and strike plate are originally installed, shrinkage or swelling of the door or its frame may subsequently require resetting of the parts. Heretofore, this has generally been accomplished by shifting or adjusting the strike plate.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a lock which is adjustable relative to an associated strike plate.

Another object is to provide a door lock which is readily adjustable relative to a strike plate and wherein such adjustment feature is not appreciably noticeable.

Another object is to provide an adjustable door lock of the foregoing type wherein the door need not be mortised in order to effect an adjustment of the lock relative to its strike plate.

A still further object is to provide an adjustable door lock in which the adjustment feature is simple and economical to manufacture and assemble.

The manner in which the above and other objects of the invention are accomplished will be readily understood on reference to the following specification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional plan view of a lock embodying a preferred form of my invention and illustrating the same as attached to a door. The view is taken substantially along line 11 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view of the lock and is taken substantially along line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the lock, illustrating the same adjusted in a mid-position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating the lock as adjusted to one side of its mid-position.

Fig. 5 is a rear view of a part of the retainer plate and is taken in the direction of the arrow 5 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a front view of a part of the lock housing flange and is taken in the direction of the arrow 6 in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the lock comprises a lock housing 11 having a suitable guideway, partly illustrated at 12, for guiding a bolt 13 to and from its locking position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In order to extend or retract the bolt, a rotatable spool 14 is mounted in the housing 11 and has a square opening therein, through which extends a square shaft 15. The latter is slideably fitted in the spool 14 and extends through enlarged openings 16 in a door 17 in which the lock is mounted. Door knobs, partially illustrated at 18 and 19 are secured by screws 20 to the opposite ends of 2,768,015 Patented Oct. 23, 1956 the shaft 15. As is usual in locks of this type, suitable mechanism is provided (not shown) whereby rotation of either door knob, and consequently rotation of the spool 14, will retract or extend the bolt 13.

The lock housing 11 extends into a hole 21 formed in the door 17 and has integrally formed thereon a flange 22 having parts extending above and below the body portion proper of the housing. In accordance with the present invention, the hole 21 is materially wider than the lock housing 11 whereby to permit lateral adjustment of the housing and its bolt along the splined connection formed by the spool 14 and shaft 16.

In order to adjustably mount the lock housing in the door, a retainer plate 23 is provided. The retainer plate is fitted directly against the outer face of the flange 22 and has a hole 24 therein which surrounds the latching end of the bolt 13. The hole 24 is wider than the bolt 13 to permit sideways adjustment of the bolt and housing relative to the retainer plate.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, bent over ears 25 and 26 extend from the edges of the retainer plate and slideably embrace the flange 22 to retain these parts together but allow a material relative movement therebetween for adjustment purposes.

The retainer plate 23 is provided with two countersunk holes 27 which register with two laterally extending slots 28 formed in the flange 22. Screws 29 are arranged to pass through the holes 27 and slots 28 and into the edge of the door to mount the lock in place.

In order to rigidly hold the lock housing against slip- 33 formed along the inner sloping sides of the depressed portion 32. When the screws are tightened they force the inner edges of the depressed portions 32 of the flange 22 against the surface of a mortised portion 34 of the door provided to receive the retainer plate.

In adjusting the lock, the screws are loosened sufliciently to allow adjustment of the lock housing. The door is then closed and the lock housing adjusted by a suitable tool (not shown) until the bolt 13 is located in proper relation to the keeper edge of a strike plate 36 which is suitably and permanently mounted on a mating door jamb 37. The door is then opened without disturbing the adjustment and the screws are subsequently tightened to lock the parts in place.

Having thus described the invention what I desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An adjustable door lock comprising a bolt housing having a guideway therein for a lock bolt, a bolt slideably mounted in said guideway and projecting from one end of said bolt housing, a flange on said end of said housing, said flange having portions extending above and below said housing; a retainer plate engaging the outer surface of said flange, an opening in said retainer plate through which said bolt extends; said opening being of greater width than said bolt whereby to permit adjustment of said bolt housing sideways relative to said retainer plate; screw holes in said retainer plate, and openings in said flange in registry with said screw holes, said openings being of greater width than said screw holes in the direction of adjustment of said bolt housing.

2. An adjustable door lock according to claim 1 comprising interlocking projections on said flange and said retainer plate whereby to lock said bolt housing in any adjusted position thereof.

3. An adjustable door lock according to claim 1 com- I prising bent-over portions on said retainer plate, said portions slideably embracing said flange whereby to prevent disassembly of said retainer plate and said flange and to permit said adjustment of said bolt housing.

4. An adjustable door lock according to claim 1 comprising interlocking projections on said flange and said retainer plate whereby to lock said bolt housing in any adjusted position thereof, and bent over ears on said retainer plate, said ears slideably embracing said flange whereby to prevent disassembly of said retainer plate and said flange and to permit said adjustment of said bolt 10 housing.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Burgess Jan. 29, Sparks June 23, Hubbard Nov. 9, Augenbaum Apr. 2, Russel et a1. Apr. 7, 

